When
Zap2it visited the Atlanta set of
"The Vampire Diaries" set this December, below-freezing temps and blustery winds had everyone bundling up, so we were happy to get out of the cold, especially with the always warm and welcoming
Katerina Graham for company.

It was just a few days after the episode "The Sacrifice" aired, in which Graham's cover of the Garbage classic "Only Happy When It Rains" was used in the soundtrack, so of course, we had to ask about hearing her music on the show.

Graham confirms that she recorded the cover specifically with "TVD" in mind. "I just wanted to do a song for the show, because I couldn't use anything that was in my actual catalog, because it's all, you know, poppy. It's like a gay disco," she laughs. "I was like 'This isn't going to work. I'll just do a song and submit it, and if they don't use it, whatever.'"

Executive producer Kevin Williamson and music supervisor Chris Mollere loved the song and included it in a schoolyard scene where Tyler (
Michael Trevino) and Matt (
Zach Roerig) hash out some uncomfortable apologies. "I love that it wasn't actually for my scene," Graham says. "I loved that. I was really grateful for that; it kind of shocked me. It's just a fun cover I wanted to do. No high expectations."

While that song won't be released as a single, Graham does have one more cover to release this month, before she turns her focus exclusively to original material (one of her 2011 New Year's Resolutions!).

"It's a Janet Jackson song. I won't say which one it is," she teases. "We had
Laurieann Gibson, who is an amazing choreographer, choreograph it, and Bille Woodruff, who directed me in ['Honey 2'] directed it. It's going to be massive. It'll be fun! I'm kind of that little girl who would dance in the mirror in her underwear to all her songs, and now I'm at a point where I can put it on record and make videos to it, so that's really all it is."

Graham makes sure to have a say in every part of her music career, from song choice to video styling. "I'm very involved. I think it's important to have your own individual style and sense of self. It's kind of what I do."

Though Graham highly doubts that we'll get a "Once More With Feeling" type musical episode of "The Vampire Diaries" any time soon, she's quick to sing the praises of her co-stars
Nina Dobrev and
Candice Accola.

"Nina is a singer. I love watching her in 'The American Mall;' I'm going to embarrass her if she sees this, but I'm a fan of her," Graham says. "Elena can be very serious, she has good moments, but she's normally very serious, so it's very fun for me to get to see [Nina] in this very fun, 'Glee' light."

The first part of our video interview with Graham is below. Stay tuned for more, including her take on Bonnie's love life - which may surprise you. We'll also keep you posted with more details on that upcoming Janet Jackson cover!